READ THE CITIZENS' VOICE

Digital Only Subscription
Read the digital e-Edition of The Citizens' Voice on your PC or mobile device, and have 24/7 access to breaking news, local sports, contests, and more at citizensvoice.com or on our mobile apps.

Digital Services
Have news alerts sent to your mobile device or email, read the e-Edition, sign up for daily newsletters, enter contests, take quizzes, download our mobile apps and see the latest e-circulars.

Contact Us
See department contacts, frequently asked questions, request customer service support, submit a photo or place an ad.

Article Tools

The state Department of Corrections filed felony theft charges Friday against a clerical supervisor at State Correctional Institution at Dallas accused of stealing nearly $74,000 from an employee account.

Stasia M. Lanning, 38, of 304 Broadway Road, Hunlock Creek, is charged with felony counts of theft and unlawful use of a computer for conduct that began when she became treasurer of the SCI-Dallas Employees’ Association in January 2008, court records show.

Lanning, who was hired in September 1996 as a clerk typist and promoted to clerical supervisor in September 2005, has been under investigation for months, with the department filing a search warrant for her bank account information back in April.

She became president of the association in January 2013, which together with her role as treasurer put her in charge of funds from vending machine sales inside the prison and various fundraisers that help support employees. But when she stepped down from the positions at the end of 2013, she refused to turn over the organization’s financial records to the new officers, according to the criminal complaint.

After the superintendent ordered Lanning to turn over the records, she turned over “very limited records,” the complaint says. A subsequent review conducted by SCI-Dallas Business Manager David Popek found about $8,000 missing, a gap Lanning could not explain.

“Sad to say I failed to keep accurate records of transactions,” Lanning said in a written statement, according to court records. “I cannot account and/or remember various deductions throughout 2013. When issued the debit/Visa card the card wouldn’t work various locations and cash withdrawals would be taken.”

An additional analysis of the association's accounts as well as Lanning’s personal accounts showed that between 2008 and January 2014, Lanning had access to more than $91,000 in association money, including $61,977 in vending company revenue and $23,712 from raffles, clothing sales and other special events. But only about $17,200 was ever used to fund association activities, the complaint says.

“It appears that CS1 Lanning, without authorization, removed from or never deposited into the EA’s bank account the remaining $73,832.07,” says the complaint, filed by Daniel E. Meinert, an investigator with the Office of Special Investigations and Intelligence.

During the same period, Lanning deposited more than $100,000 in cash into her personal accounts, the complaint alleges. She claimed the money was from her soon-to-be ex-husband, although she said she didn’t know where he got the cash, Meinert wrote.

Based on an estimate of expenses Lanning provided investigators — an estimate that appears to have been overstated — the association’s accounts should have had a balance of about $60,000 at the end of 2013, Meinert wrote. The actual balance on Dec. 1, 2013, was $138.25, the complaint says.

A search warrant previously filed in the case indicated Lanning’s credit report showed she was past due on nine accounts, including her mortgage payment to M&T Bank.

Magisterial District Judge James Tupper arraigned Lanning on Friday morning and released her on $25,000 unsecured bail. A preliminary hearing is set for Aug. 28 at 10 a.m.

We welcome user discussion on our site, under the following guidelines:

To comment you must first create a profile and sign-in with a verified DISQUS account or social network ID. Sign up here.

Comments in violation of the rules will be denied, and repeat violators will be banned. Please help police the community by flagging offensive comments for our moderators to review. By posting a comment, you agree to our full terms and conditions. Click here to read terms and conditions.